Regional Project
Asbestos
Asbestos Management
Asbestos Management
Asbestos-containing materials are a major issue for many Pacific Island countries with a history of use of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) in building construction. All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans, and inhalation of asbestos fibres that have become airborne can cause serious lung disease.
Project Description
The purpose of this regional project is to promote understanding of asbestos and its risks; to assist Countries to adopt and implement Legislative/Regulatory ACM Bans; create and support the adoption of an ACM Code of Practices and provide support tools to properly manage and control ACM.
What will this project do?
The project will develop support documents as follows:
Asbestos-Containing Material Ban Policy Note & Drafting Guidance
- An analysis of the current situation, options to implement asbestos and ACM import bans, and the relevance of each option to Pacific Island countries’ regional and individual national contexts.
ACM Management Model Code of Practice
- Developing a code of practice for an asbestos guidance document that provides a practical resource for countries to further reduce exposure to asbestos fibres by addressing identification and awareness, safe storage, transport, handling, and disposal of ACM.
Additional Resources
- Compile a set of resources to craft the necessary legislation and/or regulations to ban the manufacture, use, reuse, import, transport, storage, or sale of all forms of asbestos and ACMs within the Pacific Island countries. This will include the development of Ministerial briefs and drafting guidelines for an asbestos ban that can easily be adapted for use by countries.
- Development of resources addressing asbestos management in the Pacific (looking at legal and non-legal specificities) such as factsheets and booklets for businesses and communities, case studies, and training development
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Project resources
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Booklet
Asbestos Management Legislative and Regulatory Analysis – Policy Recommendations
This publication was developed to assist PacWastePlus participating countries to implement policy instruments that address the management of asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACMs). This publication is the initial output of an assistance package of support for PacWastePlus countries to manage the importation of ACMs at a national level.
Booklet
Asbestos Management Policy and Regulation for Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste
Justification brief for leaders (includes both policy and regulation opportunities)
This document is designed to assist PacWastePlus participating countries to implement legislative instruments that ban the importation of asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACMs).
This document provides:
• Introductory information on asbestos, its impacts on human health, and current management asbestos management practices
• Information on the regulatory, and non-regulatory activities that can be implemented to reduce exposure risk from asbestos and ACM
• Justification for executing an ACM ban both through policy and regulation.
Factsheet
Asbestos Management Legislative Reform Pathway
PacWastePlus has developed an Asbestos Management Legislative Reform Pathway that clearly identifies the steps necessary to institute bans on asbestos. This Pathway utilises and summaries the various work undertaken such as an analysis of legislative options for the management of asbestos, development of a guidance note/brief on the issues, and a Policy Note to guide the drafting of National legislation to impose a ban on the importation of asbestos. The development of these resources is in direct response to the outcomes of previous SPREP Meetings requesting specific assistance to manage asbestos and ban its importation to the region.